Lockheed Martin
announced Wednesday it has delivered the 10th upgraded P-3C
maritime surveillance aircraft originally contracted by the US
Navy's Naval Air Systems Command, as part of a foreign military
sale to the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN).
Under the 2001 contract, Lockheed Martin was awarded more than
$73 million to upgrade 10 P-3C aircraft to include advanced
computer processing and mission systems integration capabilities;
improved communications systems; and state-of the-art acoustic and
non-acoustic sensors. The first upgraded aircraft was delivered to
the US Navy in November 2003.
Lockheed Martin provides the program management, systems
engineering, mission systems and sensors for the aircraft, as well
as aircraft upgrades and modifications.
"The P-3 has been an exceptionally capable and durable aircraft
for US and international operators for more than 40 years," said
Rick Kirkland, vice president of Lockheed Martin's Maritime
Surveillance Enterprise. "With this history, and with more than 400
P-3 aircraft in use by US and international operators, we
understand how critical it is to create solutions that ensure the
continued availability of the P-3 aircraft for many years to
come."
The P-3C is the primary maritime surveillance aircraft operated
by the US Navy and 15 international allies. Its roles include
anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, overland
intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and network-centric
warfare, such as command, control and communications. Additionally,
the capabilities of the P-3C make it an ideal platform for a number
of secondary missions, including search and rescue, drug
interdiction, airborne early warning and electronic warfare.
"To meet the demands expected to be placed on the aircraft in
the years ahead, Lockheed Martin is developing aggressive programs
to identify and respond to structural aging issues; providing
refresh technology to keep the aircraft's mission capabilities on
the cutting edge; and developing systems that operate effectively
with other domestic and allied platforms to support the
requirements of combatant commanders," added Kirkland.
As prime contractor to
the US Navy's Naval Air Systems Command, Lockheed Martin is the
prime mission system integrator for the P-3C aircraft's mission
avionics, including surveillance sensors, acoustic sensors, weapons
control, communication, survivability, displays and controls.
Lockheed Martin is a leader in the design, research, development,
systems integration and support of mission systems and onboard
computing on advanced military aircraft and related technologies.
Its customers include US and international military and civilian
agencies.
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